Shop your own closet

I really need to clean my closet. It's bad. It looks like that scene from Poltergeist, after the closet demon sucks all the soul and worldly possessions from the room in a whirl of wind and destruction.

The perk, though, is that once I actually force myself to get down in there, I'm going to find a universe of discoveries I had long forgotten. Digging into your closet and looking at it in a new light can have all the satisfaction of a rampage through the mall, minus the self loathing and cushion coin surfing that comes when you overdraw your bank account.

Deal Divas got some tips from Colin Megaro, a fashion stylist who gives personal wardrobe consults. He's based out of New York and LA, but he travels around for clients. For $300, he'll give you up to three hours of his wisdom -- a consultation, closet editing and a customized look book.

However, for those of us so broke we've resorted to selling Aunt Mindy's Crystal Gale LP on Craigslist, Colin came through. He offered some tips for making the things you already have work for you. Here we go!

1. Clean out the closet. Remove and review every item. Make piles of clothing that you never wear, clothing that no longer fits and clothing that is still in rotation. Donate the pieces you don’t wear to your favorite charity. The closet will be less cluttered, great for sanity. Plus, you're being nice, and you get a tax deduction.

2. Beware items that don't fit. If they're too small, donate them. If they're overly big, slightly short or out of style, take them to a tailor. Pant hems can be let down, shirts can be altered to have different sleeve styles, skirts can be reworked into new looks. And it's a lot cheaper than buying new.

3. After you purge, consider having a clothing swap with friends. Invite them over, ask them to bring clothes, try stuff on, mix and match, get new style ideas, save money and have fun.

About the bloggers

Looking for shopping deals in Tampa Bay? The Deal Divas are on the prowl, sniffing out hot fashion finds that won't leave your wallet in ruins. Now you never have to miss a shopping deal! Check in often for the lowdown on local bargains, as well as fashion advice, fun photos and style news. Disclaimer: The content of this blog is produced by the editorial staff of the Times and is not tied to advertising. E-mail us ideas you'd like us to write about.

Stephanie Hayes , addicted to heels for 15 years, has been experimenting with ballet flats, boots and cute sneakers lately. Her poor, tired feet thank her. She can never get enough animal print, and her eye shadow collection has become a bit of a hoard. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She knows a healthy swipe of red lipstick can make any outfit better. She can be reached at (813) 226-3394 or shayes@tampabay.com.

Katie Sanders foolishly spurned pretty dresses and shoes as a child, tossing new clothes over her shoulder at birthday parties with a totally rude "no, thank you." Her drab days of monocolor outfits are over now, and she certainly knows better than to turn down free stuff. Her wardrobe mixes classic with quirk. Think blazers with statement necklaces, and lots of patterned ballet flats. She can be reached at (850) 224-7263 or ksanders@tampabay.com..

Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or kstanley@tampabay.com.

From camo pants and construction boots to sundresses, sweaters and sling backs, Keyonna Summers knows how to make all of it rock -- at rock bottom prices. A Detroit native, Keyonna delves into her urban roots to find fashion pairings that give a nod to street fashion while maintaining the class of the modern, professional woman. She believes in searching for affordable clothes that look expensive and can easily be dressed up or down. You won't find plaid shirts or fleece jackets in her closet; the only hiking Keyonna does is to the bargain basement. She can be reached at (727) 445-4153 or ksummers@tampabay.com.